The Home Front

The home front - A WEEKLY DIGEST OF NEWS AND ADVICE

Today is the last day of HomeFest, a two-week tour of 48 new houses in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Houses range in price from $67,000 to $795,000.

This is the first year for the event, which replaced the Home Builders Association of Mid-Florida's Fall Parade of Homes. HomeFest also included a weekend home show, which was held last month.

Hours are noon to 6 p.m. today. Admission is free. Guides are available in the models, which are marked by HomeFest signs. Guides also were available in Saturday's Homes section. Some of the houses are featured on the Web at http://www.hbamidfl.com/HomeFest/map.htm

BUILDING SEMINAR

If you're thinking about having a custom home built, here's some friendly advice: Do your homework. You can start with a seminar Saturday in Casselberry.

Cumberland Custom Homes of Orlando will help you analyze the pros and cons of building a custom home. Topics will include site selection, architectural design, engineering and financing. There also will be question-and-answer sessions.

House shoppers interested in Brevard County can tour 36 entries in the 1998 Fall

Parade of Homes, including a showcase house and a showcase community.

The Home Builders and Contractors Association of Brevard is sponsoring the event from Saturday through Oct. 18 throughout the county. Prices of the entries range from the $70s to $360,000.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for most models. A few may be closed on Sundays. There is no admission fee.

Guidebooks will be available at any entry, or you can visit the trade group's office at 1500 W. Eau Gallie Blvd. in Melbourne.

The showcase house, the Pebble Beach model by Joyal Construction, is at the Cloisters on Riverside Drive, Melbourne. The showcase community is Ventana, off Viera Boulevard in Viera in central Brevard County. Details: 1-800-370-3720.